BioMEMS and Bionanotechnology have the potential to make significant impact in a wide range of fields and applications. This lecture series introduces the basic concepts and topics underlying the interdisciplinary areas of BioMEMS and Bionanotechnology. Advances in this field require the knowledge of polymer processing and soft lithography in addition to silicon-inspired fabrication. Since the primary aim of many of these devices and systems is to form sensors for biological and chemical entities, an introduction to DNA, proteins, and microbiology is also essential. These devices and systems are designed to handle fluids at these small scale and hence the basic concepts of microfluidics need to be reviewed. Means to transport fluids and biological entities in these devices are necessary for the proper functioning and design of integrated devices, that can perform complete analysis on biological and chemical samples. These key topics are reviewed in this lecture series to equip the listener to get engaged deeper in these exciting areas of research.

Abstract:The development of "nanotechnology" has made it possible to engineer material and devices on a length scale as small as several nanometers (atomic distances are ~ 0.1 nm). The properties of such "nanostructures" cannot be described in terms of macroscopic parameters like mobility or diffusion coefficient and a microscopic or atomistic viewpoint is called for. The purpose of this course is to convey the conceptual framework that underlies this microscopic viewpoint using examples related to the emerging field of nanoelectronics.

Abstract:Scaling of CMOS devices into the nanometer regime leads to increased processing cost. In this regard, the field of Computational Electronics is becoming more and more important because device simulation offers unique possibility to test hypothetical devices which have not been fabricated yet and it also gives unique insight into the device behavior by allowing the observation of phenomena that can not be measured on real devices. The of this class is to introduce the students to all semi-classical semiconductor device modeling techniques that are implemented in either commercial or publicly available software. As such, it should help students to understand when one can use drift-diffusion model and when it is necessary to use hydrodynamic, lattice heating, and even particle-based simulations. A short tutorial on using the Silvaco/PADRE simulation software is included and its purpose is to make users familiar with the syntax used in almost all commercial device simulation software.

Abstract:This course examines the device physics of advanced transistors and the process, device, circuit, and systems considerations that enter into the development of new integrated circuit technologies. The course consists of three parts. Part 1 treats MOS and MOSFET fundamentals as well as second order effects such as gate leakage and quantum mechanical effects. Short channel effects, device scaling, and circuit and system considerations are the subject of Part 2. In Part 3, we examine new transistor materials and device structures. The use of computer simulation to examine device issues is an integral part of the course.

Abstract:"Nanomaterials," is an interdisciplinary introduction to processing, structure, and properties of materials at the nanometer length scale. The course will cover recent breakthroughs and assess the impact of this burgeoning field. Specific nanofabrication topics include epitaxy, beam lithographies, self- assembly, biocatalytic synthesis, atom optics, and scanning probe lithography. The unique size- dependent properties (mechanical, thermal, chemical, optical, electronic, and magnetic) that result from nanoscale structure will be explored in the context of technological applications including computation, magnetic storage, sensors, and actuators.

Abstract:How does the resistance of a conductor change as we shrink its length all the way down to a few atoms? This is a question that has intrigued scientists for a long time, but it is only during the last twenty years that it has become possible for experimentalists to provide clear answers, leading to enormous progress in our understanding. There is also great applied interest in this question at this time, since every computer we buy has about a billion transistors that rely on controlling the flow of electrons through a conductor a few hundred atoms in length.

In this series of four lectures (total length ~ 5-6 hours) Datta attempts to convey the physics of current flow in nanodevices in simple physical terms, stressing clearly what is understood and what is not. In Lecture 1, "Nanodevices and Maxwell's demon", Datta attempts to convey the subtle interplay of dynamics and thermodynamics that is the hallmark of transport physics using an electronic device reminiscent of the demon imagined by Maxwell in the nineteenth century to illustrate the limitations of the second law of thermodynamics. Lecture 2 ("Electrical Resistance: A simple model") explains many important concepts like the quantum of conductance using a simple model that Datta uses routinely to teach an undergraduate class on Nanoelectronics. Lecture 3 ("Probabilities, wavefunctions and Green's functions) describes the full quantum transport model touching on some of the most advanced concepts of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics including the Boltzmann equation and the non-equilibrium Green function (NEGF) formalism and yet keeping the discussion accessible to advanced undergraduates. Finally in Lecture 4 ("Coulomb blockade and Fock space") Datta explains the limitations of the current models and speculates on possible directions in which the field might evolve.

Overall the objective is to convey an appreciation for state-of-the-art quantum transport models far from equilibrium, assuming no significant background in quantum mechanics or statistical mechanics.

Abstract:The development of "nanotechnology" has made it possible to engineer materials and devices on a length scale as small as several nanometers (atomic distances are ~ 0.1 nm). The properties of such "nanostructures" cannot be described in terms of macroscopic parameters like mobility and diffusion coefficient and a microscopic or atomistic viewpoint is called for. The purpose of this course is to convey the conceptual framework that underlies this microscopic theory of matter which developed in course of the 20th century following the advent of quantum mechanics. However, this requires us to discuss a lot more than just quantum mechanics - it requires an appreciation of some of the most advanced concepts of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. Traditionally these topics are spread out over many physics/ chemistry courses that take many semesters to cover. Our aim is to condense the essential concepts into a one semester course using electrical engineering related examples. The only background we assume is matrix algebra including familiarity with MATLAB (or an equivalent mathematical software package). We use MATLAB-based numerical examples to provide concrete illustrations and we strongly recommend that the students set up their own computer program on a PC to reproduce the results. This hands-on experience is needed to grasp such deep and diverse concepts in so short a time.

These lectures were found via NanoHub website which is a web-based resource for research, education, and collaboration in nanotechnology, is an initiative of the NSF-funded Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN).
They have many more video lectures, seminar videos teaching materials, just visit their website!

About the lecture:
A U.S. Army soldier carries more than 100 pounds of gear into battle. What can be done to lighten the load, while still providing maximum protection? Edwin Thomas, Director of MIT’s new Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, describes an alternative to the past practice of “dressing up a soldier like a Christmas tree”. He describes instead, a dynamic battle suit that wards off bullets and biochemical threats while providing real-time data on the soldier’s medical condition. Thomas, who spent time training for this project at Fort Polk, explains how interdisciplinary teams are exploring nanomaterial designs that could also benefit civilian emergency responders.

About the lecture:Subra Suresh fleshes out the promise of nanotechnology, at least in regard to our understanding of disease. His talk, which focuses on malaria and its impact on red blood cells, demonstrates how the fields of engineering, biology and medicine are converging.

To function properly, he explains, a red blood cell -- eight micrometers in diameter or 1/10th the thickness of a human hair -- must be able to squeeze through three micrometer openings in blood vessels. Working with a “laser tweezer” and two tiny (nano-sized) glass beads, Suresh can apply pressure to stretch single cells so that they become thin enough to fit through small openings. He uses a computer to simulate in three dimensions how red blood cells might fold and lengthen under normal conditions in the human body.

Lecture description:Nanowires and nanocrystals represent important nanomaterials with one-dimensional and zero-dimensional morphology, respectively. Here I will give an overview on the research about how these nanomaterials impact the critical applications in faster transistors, smaller nonvolatile memory devices, efficient solar energy conversion, high-energy battery and nanobiotechnology.

Lecture description:Nanotechnology is little-known to the general public, but in the science and policy community its promise is exciting. What are the promises and pitfalls of this new field? How is it going to help the field of medicine? What are the implications for our economy? Join us as leaders in the field discuss the very real hopes and concerns for nanotechnology applied to aging-related research.